“But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20). A few weeks ago, I asked some Lutheran friends in Israel and from Iran how they felt about the recent clashes between their respective countries. Shortly after that, our church leader friend in Tel Aviv, Sahar Sadlovsky Gold, suggested that we all meet on Zoom to get to know each other. Sahar took a screenshot of that blessed get-together. In the upper left-hand corner, you can see Michael, one of our 160 Persian parishioners at Zion Hamburg, along with his wife Marta (not pictured). I had the privilege of baptizing them several years ago, and both have come to wholeheartedly embrace Lutheran theology. In fact, Michael is currently learning English so that, God willing, he may enter the LCMS-sponsored English-language pastoral formation program at Riga Luther Academy next year. Michael and Marta are also among those who regularly translate my sermons into Farsi. In the upper right-hand corner was Sahar, soon to be ordained and in the process of planting the first truly Lutheran church in Israel (there are already a few Protestant ones there). Next to him was daughter Thea (his wife Maria was off-camera). Yours truly, bottom right. And then our Iranian friends Amir and his wife Sarina (who recently translated the Augsburg Confession into Farsi). Amir has just concluded his second year at Riga Luther Academy. God willing, Amir will one day be the first-ever Lutheran pastor from Iran. We all noted that, despite our Iranian, Israeli, or American passports, we are all justified sinners, having been adopted through our Lord Jesus Christ. And, as such, our citizenship in heaven is much more significant than our earthly allegiances. As Brother Sahar put it so well: “It was nice meeting the Persian brothers last week, and I am honoured to be called their brothers in the faith. Our ancient Jewish and Persian heritage is rich, but it means nothing to our standing as justified sinners before God. Our Lutheran heritage as Book of Concord Lutherans is superior to all, and we should cherish that together in our mission” …to point everyone we meet to Jesus Christ and our true citizenship—in heaven.
The Tiews in Germany 